About

build IT @SDSU Library is a student-run makerspace designed to foster creativity and innovation. By providing an infrastructure for the DIY learning of technology, build IT assists anyone in their mission of bringing their ideas to life. The build IT space provides a physical location where anyone can gather to explore, build, and learn through sharing resources and knowledge, working on projects, and networking. With its central location in the SDSU Library, access to build IT is available to anyone on-campus regardless of their discipline or expertise.

Design Lightbox v1.1 was constructed similarly to our first lightbox, with some minor differences. Left: new lightbox, Right: original lightboxThe new lightbox is also constructed from foamboard, posterboard, and a semi-translucent material. The foam board was joined together with hot-melt adhesive (also known as hot glue) rather than duct tape. To reduce waste, the windows […]

ALA 2017 Poster This is the companion website to the poster, “How to Leverage your Academic Makerspace to Help Advance Your Local Community,” presented at ALA Annual 2017, Chicago, IL SummaryBackground build IT is the makerspace of the SDSU Library. While it’s purpose is to provide access to technology to students, faculty, and staff, it […]

Definition The 3D printers in build IT create 3D objects by depositing layers of material incrementally to build a 3D object. The thickness of each layer of deposited material is called the ‘layer height’.For Fused Deposition Modeling, or FDM, printers like the ones in build IT, one variable that affects the final quality of a […]

Before We Begin Necessary TerminologyExtruder – This is a part of a 3D printer. This is the part that heats up to nearly melt the material so that the material can be worked with. A motor pushes the material through the hot part and out of a nozzle at the end. Filament – This is […]

ABS stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. In the context of 3D printing, it is a plastic filament that comes on a spool. ABS is one of the two main printer filaments. ABS is the material that LEGO bricks have traditionally been made of. Print Temperature: 245° Celsius Bed Temperature: 100° Celsius, if the bed heats […]

There is a general rule of thumb for when parts need supports called the “45 degree rule.” It may be hard to think about the 45° Rule on a 3D model or object, so this section explains the concept, and the next section has an example. The image to the right shows a plane. The […]

3D Models 3D models are important for 3D printing. Before you can print something, you need to have the .stl file of what you want to print. How to get a .stl file CREATE YOUR OWN .STL FILE WITH 3D MODELING SOFTWARE Save your model as an .stl file! Solidworks Software specifically used by the […]